San Francisco from Portland, Oct 16–18: $404 per person, round trip
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $141 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Highs 63–84°F, little rain expected
- No passport needed
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 19h 48m in all.
Worth it if you want to walk, eat and see things; skip it if you want to switch off.
A round trip from Portland to San Francisco costs $404 per person ($808 for two) on Frontier for Oct 16–18, 2026. That's 2 nights, but the flight has 1 stop and isn't nonstop. The forecast shows highs of 63–84°F with a 0% chance of rain, and we didn't find hotel prices for these dates.
The total, before you go
$808 for two · 2 nights · flights, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $808 |
| The total, before you go | $808 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$141 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $60 each way per bag on Frontier, $240 for two round trip). Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$404 per person, round trip
$808 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 19h 48m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 12:25 PM – Sat, Oct 17, 8:13 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | $404 | 1 stop | 19h 48m |
| Alaska | $583 | nonstop | 2h 5m |
| Alaska | $583 | nonstop | 2h |
Prices checked Oct 13, 2026, 11:26 AM PDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
The fare is $404 per person, $141 below the typical fare on this route. That's 26% under the $545 median of our earlier checks. Across 12 offers, we saw fares from $404 to $603, so this one is at the bottom of what we found. Prices are all-in as of Oct 13, 2026, and they can change. September and October bring San Francisco's warmest, clearest weather of the year, and Fleet Week falls in October. The forecast shows 84°F and clear on Friday, then overcast skies at 72°F on Saturday and 63°F on Sunday. There's a 0% chance of rain on all three days. It's a good fit for a city and food weekend: a bridge walk, dim sum and a ferry out on the bay. Heads-up: the Frontier flight lands Saturday at 8:13 AM, so you give up Friday to get the lower fare.
The kind of trip this is
This is a city and food weekend with a romantic side: hills, bay views, cable cars and long lunches in close-together neighborhoods. It suits a couple or two friends who'd rather walk and eat than tick off a list. With the Frontier flight you get Saturday and Sunday, so the pace is quick. Pick two neighborhoods and one big outing, like Alcatraz or Muir Woods.
Weather in San Francisco, Oct 16–18
Highs 63–84°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | 84 °F | 63 °F | 0% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 72 °F | 59 °F | 0% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 63 °F | 57 °F | 0% |
Where to stay in San Francisco
We didn't find hotel prices for these dates, so we aren't naming a hotel. Check rates directly before you commit, because the $1,568 for two in our budget covers only flights and spending money. On a first visit, Union Square puts central hotels, cable cars and shopping at your door, which helps on a short trip. Fisherman's Wharf / North Beach is the base for the waterfront, the Alcatraz ferries and Italian cafes. Nob Hill has grand historic hotels with bay views if this is a couple's weekend. The Mission has murals, taquerias and the sunniest weather in town. Marina / Cow Hollow has boutique inns near the Golden Gate and Crissy Field.
All hotels in San Francisco for these dates
Where in San Francisco
- Union Square: Central hotels with cable cars and shopping at the door.
- Fisherman's Wharf / North Beach: Waterfront, Alcatraz ferries and Italian cafes.
- Nob Hill: Grand historic hotels with bay views.
- The Mission: Murals, taquerias and the sunniest weather in town.
- Marina / Cow Hollow: Boutique inns near the Golden Gate and Crissy Field.
What to do in San Francisco
- Walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.
- Take the ferry to Alcatraz from the Fisherman's Wharf / North Beach waterfront.
- Ride a cable car over Nob Hill.
- Eat dim sum in Chinatown, then burritos in the Mission.
- See the redwoods at Muir Woods.
- Watch the sea lions at Pier 39.
Tours and tickets in San Francisco
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Portland | Portland International (PDX) |
|---|---|
| Airports in San Francisco | San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland International (OAK), San José Mineta International (SJC) |
| Flight time | 19h 48m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 535 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
What 2 nights in San Francisco costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $808 |
| Hotel, 2 nights | $0 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $760 |
| Total for two | $1,568 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for a luxury destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Portland to San Francisco
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $404 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $200 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $545 |
| Price checks | 6 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for San Francisco.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- Warmest, clearest weather of the year, with Fleet Week in October
- You don't need a passport. The trip is paid in US dollars, and there's no time difference from Portland.
- The $404 Frontier fare has 1 stop and a 19h 48m outbound: you leave at 12:25 PM Friday and land at 8:13 AM Saturday.
- Alaska flies nonstop for $583 per person, leaving at 7:18 AM (2h 5m) or 10:48 AM (2h) on Friday.
- This fare lands at San Francisco International (SFO). Oakland International (OAK) and San José Mineta International (SJC) also serve the area.
- Prices are all-in as found on Oct 13, 2026, and they can change before you book.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
It's $404 per person round trip on Frontier, or $808 for two, all-in as found on Oct 13, 2026. That's $141 below the typical fare on this route of $545. A nonstop on Alaska was $583 per person, or $1,166 for two.
Is it nonstop?
No. The Frontier fare has 1 stop, and the outbound takes 19h 48m. It leaves Portland at 12:25 PM on Friday, Oct 16 and lands at SFO at 8:13 AM on Saturday, Oct 17. The 535-mile trip takes 2h nonstop on Alaska.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for a weekend focused on a couple of neighborhoods, especially on an Alaska nonstop that lands Friday morning. With the Frontier flight you really get Saturday and Sunday, so plan one big outing, like Alcatraz or Muir Woods, plus a cable car ride and a long meal.
What is the weather like?
The forecast shows Friday, Oct 16 clear at 84°F, then Saturday overcast at 72°F and Sunday overcast at 63°F. Lows run from 57°F to 63°F, with a 0% chance of rain. September and October bring the warmest, clearest weather of the year here.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you pay in US dollars and there's no time difference from Portland.
What should I budget?
Flights are $808 for two, and we set aside $760 for two in spending money, which is $190 per person per day. That comes to $1,568 in total. It doesn't include a hotel, because we didn't find hotel prices for these dates.
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